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j

Question about Beta HCG levels

jamison18202 wrote:

I have a quick question and joined this group hoping to hear some opinions of others in my same boat. I just got off of birth control (loseasonique) March 28, 2011. My last menstrual period was March 21st. But the reason I was on birth control in the first place was to regulate my periods. Well, on May 4th, I took multiple pregnancy tests and they ALL came up positive! I just went to my scheduled doctor's visit on May 18th, and thought I was about 8 weeks along, due to the date of my LMP. But when the dr did the vaginal ultrasound, all he found was a gestational sac, no heartbeat or anything...he said maybe the beginnings of a fetal pole. He told me the gestational sac was only measuring at around 5 weeks 2 days. I was sent for bloodwork that afternoon (around 4 pm), and had to repeat it on May 20th. I went in around 8 am on the 20th to do the bloodwork, and when the dr called later that afternoon with the results, he said the first beta hcg levels on the 18th were 14, and the second results from the 20th were 17000. He said he would've liked to see them around 28000 though...but I didn't get the tests done exactly 48 hours apart. Are these normal levels, first off? And secondly, I have had a miscarriage 8 years ago, have a 3 1/2 year old daughter now. If I just had miscalculated my dates and am only 5 weeks, well 6 weeks now, then are my numbers normal? Everyone else I talk to, and everything I read online, says I'm just fine. Opinions please?!

UPDATE FOR THOSE WHO DON'T READ MY RESPONSES BELOW:

the numbers were 14000 and 17000 Wednesday May 18th and the 20th, respectively. On the following Monday, May 23rd, I started spotting (just a smudge on the toilet paper, nothing else), and got more bloodwork done...the number was 16000, so it dropped. My doctor said I should start to miscarry by Wednesday, and it's Thursday now, and have not spotted or started cramping or anything. He wants me to get the D&C, but I want my body to miscarry naturally... :(

@jamison18202 I'm assuming that on the 18th you meant to say your levels for 14,000. But yeah, 48 hours later should be about 28,000. But I think the doubling time is 48-72 hours and you said that you didn't get them done exactly 48 hours apart. You should be fine. :) I don't think HCG levels can be used that good to date a pregnancy as they vary so much. The important thing is that they are going up, which yours are! :) Maybe you miscalculated your dates or ovulated later than you thought, but I think your numbers are normal. Just my opinion from what I've read online.

The goal is for the levels to at least DOUBLE in 48 hours. If your 2nd test was a little less then 48 hours, then things look good. It just looks like you found out the first possible day.

As for the miscalculation of your 8 weeks - your cycles weren't regular to begin with so you could very well have been like I was with my daughter. I randomly ovulated, so we were not at all able to go off my LMP with her. If we did, she was born 2 months late! lol

I honestly think things are OKAY, and your doc will have you in for another ultrasound soon. :-) Don't worry

I should also mention that when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter (in 2003) my hCG levels were 25.4 I tested again in 48 hours and they were only 1200 but my doc said he was more then happy with that because they more then doubled. I tested again in 48 to make sure they were still going up and by that time we finally hit 5 digits. So, you are FINE!

j

jamison18202

@CallMe911 Thank you, the responses put me at ease slightly. I go for another ultrasound on Wednesday, the 25th, so we'll see what happens.

C

CallMe911

@jamison18202Your welcome! I really think everything will be JUST FINE! Just relax, and enjoy the positive. It is definitely a positve pregnancy test, and with such high numbers so quickly, I'm sure it is in a very safe place! Good luck, and keep me posted on how things go Wednesday! :-)

j

jill2778

@CallMe911 Callme911 - I know you cant tell me about increases in my numbers because my doc didn't recheck mine, but would 1300 be okay for 4w6d? My doc didn't call me back in as if they were unacceptable, but I still am a worry wart. Thanks!

l

luvsher3cuties

@jamison18202 When I went for an ultrasound when I was supposed to be 6 weeks they saw only a gestational sack and yolk sack, and I only measured at 5 weeks 1 day, my dr said everything looked good so im not worrying. It is pretty common to have due dates change and with my oldest my due date when from october 31st to november 11th lol, I have irregular cycles and dont chart when I ovulate, so as long as my baby is healthy it doesnt matter when they move my due date to lol. :)

l

luvsher3cuties

@jamison18202 When I went for an ultrasound when I was supposed to be 6 weeks they saw only a gestational sack and yolk sack, and I only measured at 5 weeks 1 day, my dr said everything looked good so im not worrying. It is pretty common to have due dates change and with my oldest my due date when from october 31st to november 11th lol, I have irregular cycles and dont chart when I ovulate, so as long as my baby is healthy it doesnt matter when they move my due date to lol. :)

I'm no doctor, but those are good strong numbers. Your hCG levels don't start to multiply until the embryo has embedding into the uterine walls, and from that point on, the hCG hormone quickly multiplies. So, if you do the math - assuming you have had 2 weeks since the egg implanted, then yes. Those are "safe" numbers. Higher is always better, but those numbers are still very safe. :-)

j

jill2778

@CallMe911 Thanks. Even though this is baby #4, this is the first I have known about so early. I normally don't find out until about 7/8 weeks when I start having strong symptoms. When I found out last year I was in my 8th week and my numbers were in the 40,000 range. So to hear 1300 seems so insignificant. I'm a natural worrier though, and without strong symptoms yet I dwell on the worst scenarios. Thanks again!

Your not alone there! This is the FIRST one where I haven't found out from the FIRST possible day of being pregnant. With my other two, the doctors told me through an exam and blood work.

This is the first positive home test I have ever taken! I am shocked I haven't had any symptoms yet either, except for exhaustion, but I run a daycare and have 2 of my own children, so the exhaustion lately isn't anything new. lol

K

Kirs10001

I think the 14 has to be an lab error there is no way you'd even see a sac with a low beta like that. I think you should have your beta redone.

j

jill2778

@CallMe911 My exhaustion isn't that bad, unless it is and I just push myself because of my 7 month old. But gas I a big deal, frequent heartburn and urination.....

j

jamison18202

Okay, well I had to go to the doctor this morning because I started spotting. :( The doctor did another ultrasound and there was only a gestational sac and a yolk sac, no baby and no heartbeat still. He said my numbers, again...and they were 14000 and 17000, so we did more bloodwork and he said if my numbers aren't in the 6 digits, I'm losing it. I'll update again once I get my test results. :(

Feeling incredibly sad today...but still no cramping or bleeding, still have tender n sore boobs, peeing quite often, nausea, etc...just waiting, again. I'm so afraid to schedule the D&C, even when I know that with dropping hcg levels it's probably only a matter of time. Is it crazy of me that I keep holding on....???

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